New Nintendo 3DS XL console review – ‘the hardware lives up to its original promise’ | The Guardian

Guardian: The 3DS is already a solid handheld, but Nintendo has nevertheless rejigged it. The result is the (rather awkwardly named) New Nintendo 3DS. With a faster processor and twice the memory of the existing model, there will be future games playable only on this new hardware. Added input – two extra shoulder buttons and a much-needed second thumb-stick – allows more nuanced controls, and the device is natively compatible with amiibo figures, which unlock features in select titles. The 3D effect, ostensibly the system’s selling point but rarely well-utilised, is dramatically improved. Motion tracking and a greater depth of field see the hardware finally living up to its original promise. It’s stunning to behold.